Skip to main content

Welcome!

Hello!

 I have been thinking about blogging for quite some time, and since it is a rainy Saturday afternoon here in Victoria, why not start now?

My plan for this blog is to share what I am doing in my classroom.  Now is an exciting time for education because so much change is coming our way.  I am trying to bring in new methods of teaching and learning to allow my students to really understand and think about the world around them.  I am constantly inspired by things that other teachers are doing, both in my school and around the world.  I love reading teacher blogs to see activities that worked (and activities that didn't work) and I hope that this blog will give ideas to other teachers to try in their classrooms.

 A little about me:
  • I live just outside Victoria, BC in Canada.  I love it here on the island.  Most of Canada is experiencing second (or third) winter - and we had temperatures of 16 degrees yesterday!
  • I have wanted to be a teacher from as far back as I can remember.  My sister and I would come home from school and play school - taking turns being the teacher. 
  • I graduated from the University of Victoria in 2010.  
  • I was fortunate enough to get my first teaching contract in October 2010 - trust me it NEVER happens that fast.  (I was in the right place at the right time with qualifications to teach Secondary French.)
  • I have taught classes from Grade 4 - Grade 11, in all subject areas.  This year I am teaching Middle School humanities - Grade 8/9 English and Social Studies - which is my dream placement!
  • I am a proud auntie!  I have a 4 year-old nephew and an (almost) 5 year-old niece.  Watching them grow up is so much fun!
  • I sell resources on Teachers Pay Teachers (if you aren't a seller - you should be!)  Visit my store here. (Shameless promotion - I know!)

 I'm excited to start this new adventure with all of you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Come To Canada! A travel brochure using typical Canadian Stereotypes.

As a wrap-up project to a lesson on stereotypes with a Grade 7 class, I decided to have the students create travel brochures for our great country, but they were only allowed to use typical Canadian stereotypes to bring in tourists. Each student had to include information on food, accommodations, sights, and activities to try.  It was hilarious to read what they came up with!  I was very impressed with their final projects!  Some students included typical Canadian advertisements, as well! So, what do you think? Would this work in your classroom? Have you done something similar? Let me know in the comments below. Looking for more great tips and ideas for middle school? Subscribe to my email list and receive an exclusive FREE sub plans resource. It includes plans for math, ELA, science, social studies, and Core French. Click  here  to subscribe.
4 comments
Read more

Using Disney's "Inside Out" With Middle Schoolers

I love Disney movies!  My first memory of going to see a movie in the theatre was with my mom and sister when I was about 3 to see The Little Mermaid.  Since then, I've been hooked.  I still go to see Disney movies with my sister when they come out in the theatre, but now we also take her 5-year old son (most of the time). When I saw "Inside Out" this summer, I loved it!  It takes place inside the brain of an 11-year-old girl named Riley.  The main characters are Riley's emotions - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.  The emotions interact with each other and steer Riley through her days, creating memories.  Riley's core memories (important times in her life) create aspects of her personality as Personality Islands.  Riley's 5 main personality islands are Goofball Island, Family Island, Friends Island, Hockey Island, and Honesty Island. When Riley was young, Joy was steering most of her actions, but in the course of the movie, Riley's f...
4 comments
Read more

Water Cycle Foldable

My Grade 4's are learning about weather in science.  To help them understand the water cycle better, we created foldable water cycles.   On each of the four flaps, we wrote the processes of the water cycle, and under the flaps, gave definitions of the process or information about that part of the water cycle.   My students enjoyed making the foldables, and now have a better understanding of the water cycle.  This activity was a great supplement to the weather pack I created.  The class is working through that pack, but when we came to the water cycle section, a significant group of them were still confused about the processes.  Instead of simply memorizing the water cycle, they were able to engage with it.  This activity was a good, interactive piece that helped to cement the ideas into their memories.  After they created the foldable, almost every student earned 100% on the water cycle quiz in the weather ...
1 comment
Read more